Office-desk



( l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2! L. A. CHASE.

OFFICE DESK. V No. 477,509. Patented June 21, 1892..

INVENTO'R:

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LUTHER A. CHASE, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

OFFICE-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 477,509, dated June 21, 1892.

Application filed June 18 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER A. CHASE, of Yonkers, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Office-Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to an officedesk containing one or more cases or cabinets suitably subdivided and adapted to rise and fall through an opening in the top of the desk, so that it may be elevated and exposed above the desk or closed downward and into the same flush with the top at will.

In the aceompaning drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a desk having two cabinets in accordance with my invention, both of which are shown in an elevated position. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1-, on alarger scale, of a part of the desk, the elevating device being shown in operative position. Fig. 4 is a vertical section 011 the line 4 4. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Figs. 2, 3, and at. Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation of one of the guides on the rear side of the cabinet. Fig. 7 represents in cross-section, in side elevation, and in top plan the roller over which the lifting-strap passes.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a flat-topped desk which may be in'all respects of ordinary construction, except that it is provided at or near opposite ends with two wells or compartments b, extending from the base upward through the top.

a a are two vertically-movable cabinets adapted to slide upward and downward through the top of the desk into the respective wells. These cabinet-s may be constructed and subdivided in any suitable manner to receive papers, books, or other articles. They are commonly made open at the front and adaped to fit snugly within the wells, so that when lowered their upper ends will close the openings in the top of the desk that it may present a flat unobstructed surface. The guiding and operating devices of each cabinet are duplicates of those of the other.

At the rear side each cabinet is provided at the lower end with a plate n, fixed thereto Serial No. 396,791, (No model.)

and mounted to slide upward and downward on a vertical guide-rod 0, the lower end of which is secured to the body of the desk, while the upper end is passed through and secured to a stationary plate 112, whereby the rod is held firmly in place.

At the front side each cabinet is provided at the base with two guide-plates 7c, whichare arranged to slide upward and downward in slotted guide-bars Z, fixed to the desk, To each cabinet there is fixed at the lower end a strap 9, extended over a guide-pulley h and provided at the rear end with a weight 0 of such size that it will balance the cabinet.

In order to lift the cabinet from the interior of the desk to its elevated and operative position, I provide a strap e, which is extended backward from the front of the desk through an opening therein over a guide-pulley h, and thence downward within the well, where it is provided with a weight (1, having a fiugerp to act against the lower end of the cabinet.

In order to lift the cabinet, it is only necessary to draw the end of the strap forward by means of a handle f, the effect being to lift the finger p, which in turn forces the cab inet upward. On releasing the strap the weight returns it to its original position, as shown in Fig. 2, leaving the cabinet in place.

It will of course be understood that one or more cabinets may be used in the desk, as preferred, and that they may be varied in size and form at will, provided they are constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described. It will also be observed that the weighted strap g and the strap 6 eperate with a lifting eifect under opposite sides of the cabinet, which is thuscaused to.rise smoothly and without any tendency to tip or bind.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A desk formed with a vertical well or compartment open at the top and a counterweighted and guided cabinet in said well adapted to be raised and lowered therein, in combination with an independent or unattached lifting strap or cord arranged in the desk, one end accessible from. the outside and the other end depending into the well and provided with a lip to engage and raise the cabinet and with a weight to return the strap when released, substantially as shown and described.

2. lhe combination of a desk, a verticallymovable counterweighted cabinet therein, an independent or unattached lifting strap mounted in the desk with one end exposed, and accessible from the outside, the opposite f end being provided with a lip to engage and \Vitnesses:

GEO. W. PEENE, CHESTER C. WARING. 

